Saliva ejector

ABSTRACT

A saliva ejector comprises a flexible tube which is flattened at one end thereof by a wire bend being drawn at least partially into the tube from said one end.

[ Oct. 21, 1975 United States Patent [191 Orsing SALIVA EJECTOR [76] Inventor:

S T. N m MA 3 SE e mm e m W N U M 5 John Harry Orsing, Avangsgatan 2, S-253 71 Helsingborg, Sweden Oct. 23, 1974 [22] Filed:

211 App]. No.: 517,344

Primary ExahiinerRobert Peshock [57] 7 ABSTRACT A saliva ejector cpmprises a flexible tube which is flattened at one end thereof by a wire bend being drawn at least partially into the tube from said one end.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 24, 1973 Sweden.............................. 7314407 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 303 5mm 212 313 2% "2 8 mnz "m c a ue "Us L .f C .C 5mm UIF 1]] 218 555 [[l.

US. Patent 0a. 21, 1975 UIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! F/G. I

SALWA EJECTOR+ ble wire dispos'edin the tube.

According to the invention a'saliva a bend the largest cross dimension of which is larger than the inner diameter of the tube, and that this wire bend for at least a major portion thereof is drawn into the tube from one end thereof in order to keep an end portion of the tube streched and flattened the wire being at the same time retained in the tube by said bend.

By this arrangement there is achieved above all that the saliva ejector may be provided with a screen at one end of the tube by a simple wire forming operation which may be easily incorporated into an automatic manufacturing procedure so that the manufacturing cost of the saliva ejector can be kept low, which is important as regards a single-use saliva ejector. Manual mounting operations which require subsequent sterilization of the saliva ejector will not be necessary thanks to the possibility to manufacture the saliva ejector by an automatic manufacturing procedure.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the wire bend is drawn into the tube completely and thus will not come into contact with the cavity of the mouth which means that the material of the wire or the surface finish thereof does not need to be chosen in view of such contact.

The wire bend may be formed in different ways. In the most simple way it is formed as a more or less circular loop a hooked end portion of the wire possibly being utilized to improve the anchoring of the wire in the tube. However, the wire bend may also consist of a non-circular loop or of a coil having two or more turns.

Embodiments of the invention will be described in detail below reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of a first embodiment of the saliva ejector according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a side view perpendicular to the view of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end view of the inlet end of the saliva ejector,

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view of a portion only of the inlet end of a second embodiment of the saliva ejector according to the invention,

FIG. 5 is a corresponding axial sectional view of a third embodiment of the saliva ejector according to the invention, and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side view corresponding to FIG. 2 of the saliva ejector according to FIG. 5.

The saliva ejector disclosed in the drawing comprises a flexible tube 10 having in itself a substantially circular cross sectional form, which may consist of a non-rigid plastics material such as conventional polyethylene hose having an outer diameter of about 6.5 mm. A substantially plastically flexible stiffening wire 11 is drawn into the tube. This wire having a diameter which is for instance about 1.0 mm may consist of an iron wire which may be cadmium plated or protected against corrosion in another suitable way.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. ]1 to 3 the wire is formed to a closed loop 12 which is in this case substantially circular but also may have another form such ejector as the type described is characterized in that the tube forms as oval or angular. This loop is drawn completely into tube 10 from one end thereof, and due to the fact that the loop has a largest cross dimension which is larger than the inner diameter of the tube there is provided by the loop being drawn into the tube a streching and thus a flattening of the tube in the area of the loop so that the tube in said area forms a flat portion 13. The tube is contracted symmetrically on axially opposite sides of the loop so that in the area of the loop there is a local protrusion in the tube wall following the form of the loop. Thereby, the loop and thus the wire in its entirety will be retained in the intended position thereof inside the tube. In connection with portion 13 the tube forms a narrow slot-like slightly elliptic end opening 14 as will 1 be seen from FIG. 3, which operates as an inlet opening. Actually, since the flattened wall portions have a slightly curved shape due to the inherent aim of the plastics tube to return to its round form, the end opening is not completely closed by the loop. However, further inlet openings may be arranged when necessary in connection with portion 13 by the tube being perforated over a more or less substantial portion of its length as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 where the perforation comprises circular openings 15. Thanks to the fact that the perforation is arranged. over a more or less substantial length the drainage obtained by means of the saliva ejector may be performed over a more or less extensive area of the cavity of the mouth. Preferably, several openings 15 are provided so that the tube wall is perforated in the same manner as a screen in the end portion thereof but a perforation of another form and arrangement is of course contemplated.

The flat end portion 13 is very well suited to bear in the cavity of the mouth and by bending of the tube said portion may be given the direction which is the most suitable one for a certain dental work in the cavity. This is an operation which can be performed by the dentist himself and, therefore, the saliva ejector may be delivered in the straight condition disclosed in the drawing. In FIG. 2 there is indicated by dash and dot lines 10' a possible and suitable form which may be imparted to the saliva ejector by bending.

In order to improve the anchoring of wire 11 inside tube 10 wire loop 12 may be provided with a hook l6 directed towards the tube mouth as is shown in FIG. 4 such hook providing a frictional engagement with the inner side of the tube. In this figure there is also disclosed the modification to have the perforation in the form of one or more slots 15'.

As mentioned initially it is preferred to have the wire loop 12 completely inside the tube but also a wire loop drawn into tube 10 only partially but to the major part may be provided within the scope of the invention. This is disclosed in FIGS. 5 and 6 where the wire forms a coil 12 having two turns. In this case the screen action will be obtained not only by the perforation of the tube and by the slot formed in the tube end by the flattening of the tube provided by means of the wire loop, but also by the wire coil.

I claim:

1. A single-use saliva ejector comprising a flexible tube, a stiffening flexible wire disposed in said tube, and a bend formed by said wire, said bend having a largest cross dimension which is larger than the inner diameter of the tube and being drawn for at least a major portion thereof into the tube from one end thereof in order to keep an end portion of the tube wire bend comprises-a substantially circular loop.

5. A saliva ejector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end portion of thewire bend forms a hook engageing the inner surface of the tube wall. I

6. A saliva ejector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tube is perforated in connection with the streched and flattened end portion. 

1. A single-use saliva ejector comprising a flexible tube, a stiffening flexible wire disposed in said tube, and a bend formed by said wire, said bend having a largest cross dimension which is larger than the inner diameter of the tube and being drawn for at least a major portion thereof into the tube from one end thereof in order to keep an end portion of the tube streched and flattened the wire being at the same time retained in the tube by said bend.
 2. A saliva ejector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tube wall forms a local protrusion which follows the form of said wire bend.
 3. A saliva ejector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wire bend comprises a loop.
 4. A saliva ejector as claimed in claim 3 wherein the wire bend comprises a substantially circular loop.
 5. A saliva ejector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end portion of the wire bend forms a hook engageing the inner surface of the tube wall.
 6. A saliva ejector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tube is perforated in connection with the streched and flattened end portion. 